6 Coffee Brewing Methods

It's National Coffee Day - Here's Everything You Need To Know About Getting A Delicious Cup Of It

There’s nothing like a fresh brewed cup o’ joe to start your day. It’s one of the most widely consumed beverage in the world and there are many ways of preparing it, but which way is best? Cold brewed coffee isn’t new, but it is a big trend at coffee shops across the nation right now. This slow infusion technique produces a very rich flavor different from iced coffee. I encourage you to give it a try next time you visit a cafe, because when winter comes a lot of places start taking it off the menu. Get it before it’s gone.

There are numerous coffee-making methods other than the autodrip you have on the kitchen counter, but it all begins with having the right beans. Always use fresh ground beans, not the pre-ground stuff from the grocery store. Grinding fresh beans just before brewing will provide a much fresher and more flavorful cup. There is a whole universe of different coffee beans from Kenya to Costa Rica, all with their own flavor profile. The coarseness of the grind is important and will depend on what brewing method you’re using. The temperature of the water, and its mineral content, also play into how your brew turns out. Use spring water for ultimate freshness. The roast counts as well. Something people may not realize is that light roast coffee actually has more caffeine than dark roast. This is because caffeine is lost in the roasting process. If you’re really obsessive about it, you can buy unroasted beans and roast them yourself at home. This gives you unmatched control over the flavor and strength.

So what are the best ways of making coffee? Including the cold brew technique, which is rising in popularity as we speak, I nailed it down to a handful. Here are the best ways to do it at home.

Cold Brew

Cold brew is actually very easy to make. The only catch is that it takes about 48 hours of steeping time. Restaurants and cafes have to make large batches so they use massive vessels the size of garbage cans, but for home use you don’t need anything nearly as big. You could even just use a ziplock bag and filter the grinds when it’s done, but a French press does the job just fine.

Grind a measured amount of beans. You will want to go for a ratio of about 1:7 beans to water for the cold brew method. The grinds should have the consistency of sea salt. If they are too coarse the coffee will taste like dirty water, and if it is too fine there will be solids in the brew.

Pour the grinds into the empty French press.

Pour room temperature or cold water in slowly so as not to disturb the grinds too much.

Stir gently a few times with a wooden stir stick, just enough to immerse all the grinds in the water.

Store in the fridge for 48 hours.

Remove from the fridge and look at the color of the brew. If it’s too light and looks like tea, you may need to let it infuse longer. If it’s ready, put on the lid of the French press and gently depress the plunger to push all the grinds to the bottom, separating them from the coffee.